The drive back from the meeting had been quiet, with Zara occasionally humming a tune and Xavier immersed in his thoughts. The day had gone well, but as the city lights began to blur past the car windows, something caught Zara's eye.
"Stop the car!" she said suddenly, leaning forward in her seat.
Xavier frowned but complied, pulling over to the side of the road. "What now?"
Zara had already unbuckled her seatbelt and was stepping out. "There's something over there," she said, pointing toward the sidewalk.
Xavier followed her gaze and spotted a small, injured dog—its silver-gray and white fur matted and dirty. The animal's piercing blue eyes met Zara's for a moment before it tried to shift away, clearly unable to walk properly.
"It's a Siberian husky," Zara said, crouching near the dog but keeping her movements slow. "These things cost a fortune. Why would one be out here like this?"
Xavier sighed, watching her with his arms crossed. "I don't know, Zara. Maybe its owner abandoned it. Can we go now?"
Zara shot him a glare before turning back to the dog. "Absolutely not. We're taking it to the vet."
"Zara—"
"Don't 'Zara' me," she said, cutting him off. "Look at it, Xavier. It needs help!"
Xavier pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly reluctant, but the determination in Zara's voice left him no choice. "Fine," he said with a resigned sigh. "Let's get it in the car."
Zara carefully lifted the dog into her arms, her heart aching at how light it felt. The husky whimpered softly, resting its head against her chest as she climbed back into the car. Xavier glanced at her, his brow furrowed, but said nothing as he started the engine.
When they arrived at the veterinary clinic, Zara carried the dog inside while Xavier trailed behind.
The veterinarian, a tall man with warm brown eyes and an easy smile, greeted them. "What have we got here?" he asked, his gaze shifting to Zara.
She explained the situation while he examined the dog. "You're a rare breed yourself," the vet said with a chuckle. "Not many people would stop for an injured animal, let alone go out of their way to bring it to a clinic."
Zara beamed, clearly pleased with the compliment. "Well, what can I say? I'm just naturally compassionate," she said, flipping her hair dramatically.
The vet laughed. "The world could use more people like you. It's refreshing to meet someone who cares so much."
Zara, already proud of herself, added, "Exactly! I mean, how could I just drive past? This little guy needed a hero, and I'm always up for the role."
The veterinarian chuckled at her antics, his eyes lingering on her a little longer than necessary.
Xavier, who had been silently observing the exchange with an increasingly irritated expression, finally spoke. His voice was colder than usual. "Are we almost done here? We don't have all day."
The vet looked up, startled by Xavier's tone, but nodded. "Just a few more minutes. I'll clean up the wound and check for any fractures."
Xavier's jaw tightened as he leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on Zara and the vet. Zara, meanwhile, was too engrossed in her conversation with the veterinarian to notice Xavier's growing annoyance.
When the vet finally finished patching up the dog, he handed Zara a small bag of medication. "Make sure he gets plenty of rest and bring him back in a week for a check-up. He's lucky you found him."
Zara smiled warmly, cradling the dog in her arms. "Thank you, Doctor…?"
"Dr. Hayes," he said, flashing her another smile.
"Well, thank you, Dr. Hayes," she said. "You've been amazing."
Dr. Hayes looked like he was about to say more, but Xavier stepped forward, his presence cutting through the moment like a blade. "Let's go, Zara," he said curtly, holding the door open for her.
Zara rolled her eyes but followed him out. As they walked to the car, she glanced at Xavier. "What's with the attitude?"
"No attitude," he said, not meeting her gaze.
She smirked, catching the faint edge of irritation in his voice. "Sure, Mr. Grumpy. Whatever you say."
Xavier didn't respond, but Zara couldn't help but notice the slight clench of his jaw as he started the car.
The ride home was quieter than usual, but Zara didn't mind. She was too busy cuddling the husky and wondering what she would name him.